1 WYC Flies `that dien, leesen the swetnesse of oynement. Litil foli at a tyme is preciousere than wisdom and glorie. BSB BSB: As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 WYC The herte of a wijs man is in his riyt side; and the herte of a fool is in his left side. BSB BSB: A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 WYC But also a fool goynge in the weie, whanne he is vnwijs, gessith alle men foolis. BSB BSB: Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 WYC If the spirit of hym, that hath power, stieth on thee, forsake thou not thi place; for heeling schal make gretteste synnes to ceesse. BSB BSB: If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 WYC An yuel is, which Y siy vndur the sunne, and goith out as bi errour fro the face of the prince; a fool set in hiy dignyte, BSB BSB: There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 WYC and riche men sitte bynethe. BSB BSB: Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 WYC I siy seruauntis on horsis, and princes as seruauntis goynge on the erthe. BSB BSB: I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 WYC He that diggith a diche, schal falle in to it; and an eddre schal bite hym, that distrieth an hegge. BSB BSB: He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 WYC He that berith ouer stoonys, schal be turmentid in tho; and he that kittith trees, schal be woundid of tho. BSB BSB: The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 WYC If yrun is foldid ayen, and this is not as bifore, but is maad blunt, it schal be maad scharp with myche trauel; and wisdom schal sue aftir bisynesse. BSB BSB: If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 WYC If a serpent bitith, it bitith in silence; he that bacbitith priueli, hath no thing lesse than it. BSB BSB: If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 WYC The wordis of the mouth of a wijs man is grace; and the lippis of an vnwijs man schulen caste hym doun. BSB BSB: The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 WYC The bigynnyng of hise wordis is foli; and the laste thing of his mouth is the worste errour. BSB BSB: The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 WYC A fool multiplieth wordis; a man noot, what was bifore hym, and who mai schewe to hym that, that schal come aftir hym? BSB BSB: Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 WYC The trauel of foolis shal turment hem, that kunnen not go in to the citee. BSB BSB: The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 WYC Lond, wo to thee, whos kyng is a child, and whose princes eten eerli. BSB BSB: Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 WYC Blessid is the lond, whos kyng is noble; and whose princis eten in her tyme, to susteyne the kynde, and not to waste. BSB BSB: Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 WYC The hiynesse of housis schal be maad low in slouthis; and the hous schal droppe in the feblenesse of hondis. BSB BSB: Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 WYC In leiyyng thei disposen breed and wyn, that thei drynkynge ete largeli; and alle thingis obeien to monei. BSB BSB: A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 WYC In thi thouyt bacbite thou not the kyng, and in the priuete of thi bed, curse thou not a riche man; for the briddis of heuene schulen bere thi vois, and he that hath pennys, schal telle the sentence. BSB BSB: Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.